LAKE COUNTY — A blood drive planned to last three hours saw a much larger than anticipated attendance on Friday.
Coworkers, friends and relatives of Chuck March organized a blood drive in his honor at Mt. Konocti Growers in Kelseyville.
Though the drive was set to take place from 3 to 6 p.m., so many people registered and dropped by it ran from 2 to about 9:30 p.m.
Those wishing to donate waited as long as two hours. Some went to the blood bus in Lakeport and donated in March”s name at that location.
“I”m an avid donor anyway, but this is really a special cause,” Teresa Cook, marketing/sales director for Mt. Konocti Winery, said. “Some people have never donated and did so because of Chuck.”
Bobby Gayaldo of Mt. Konocti Growers said “everybody wanted to do something for Chuck. He donated blood on a regular basis and that”s what inspired us to do this.”
Executive Director of the Lake County Farm Bureau, March has been fighting for his life with a strep A infection and has been hospitalized since Feb. 26.
He is currently in the Bay Area at St. Francis Hospital. March is stable, but still in a coma.
Gayaldo said the community”s support for March has been incredible.
Joy Swetnam supplied a buffet at Mt. Konocti Growers for the event. Posters were available to sign for March. The posters will be brought to his hospital room. Family and friends said his condition improved a bit that day and that he must have felt the love coming from Lake County.
Swetnam spends a great deal of time by March”s side and talks to him non-stop, she said. The doctor”s told her he could probably hear her and recognize her voice, though he is not conscious. She said March is part of her extended family.
“He is my best friend. He is my brother. He is my family,” Swetnam said.
“Chuck is so strong. He”s fought back every time,” she said of his struggle to stay alive. “The nurses have all fallen in love with him,” she said.
Swetnam said she has received so many e-mails, phone messages and inquiries about March from people who appreciate and respect him.
“I”m thrilled the community has really shown how much they love Chuck,” Swetnam said. “People say such great things about him.”
March”s assistant Kristen Dover-Krohn, Lake County Farm Bureau Office manager said, “the Blood Bank of Redwoods workers were amazed by the turnout. The last person walked off the bus at a little after 9 p.m. It was amazing to see all those people come out to show their support for Chuck. It?s the advantage of living is such a small community.”
President of the Lake County Farm Bureau, Craig Shannon said, “Chuck is a good friend and well-liked in the community. Everyone knows he contributes a lot to the county. He”s always one of the first to reach for his wallet to donate. He”s a very calm, compassionate, easy-going guy. He”s a lot of fun and always there for you, if you need anything.”
Gayaldo said another blood drive is being planned and should be announced in the next couple of weeks.
According to the Blood Bank of the Redwoods, people may continue to donate in March”s name at any Blood Bank of the Redwoods in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties. Simply ask for a card indicating a donation in his honor.
For more information call 545-1222, e-mail info@bbr.org or visit www.bbr.org.
Mandy Feder can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or call directly, 263-5636 ext. 32.
